AAMC 1 - Psych/Soc

Question 1

Identify this phenomenon:

In a famous experiment, participants were shown several pictures including one picture of a car stopped at a yield sign. Later, these participants were presented with written descriptions of the pictures, and some of these descriptions contained misinformation, such as a description of a car stopped at a stop sign. When asked to recall the details of the pictures, many participants insisted they had seen a stop sign in the picture.

Answer 1

This example illustrates the misinformation effect, where a person’s recall of an event becomes less accurate due to the injection of outside information into the memory.

Question 2

What is the misinformation effect?

Answer 2

The misinformation effect is when a person’s recall of an event becomes less accurate due to the injection of outside information into the memory.

Question 3

Why do people often retrieve unpresented members of a category when tested on their memory for a series of presented concepts from that category?

Answer 3

Spreading activation suggests that, when the representation of a concept is activated in memory, the activation spreads to concepts that are semantically or associatively related to it.

Thus, people often retrieve unpresented members of a category when tested on their memory for a series of presented concepts from that category.

Question 4

In which of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development is conservation achieved?

Answer 4

Concrete operational, ages 7-11

Question 5

Sound-induced vibrations depolarize hair cells of the cochlea by opening ion channels that are gated in what way?

A. Chemically

B. Mechanically

C. Electrically

D. Synaptically

Answer 5

Solution: The correct answer is B.

1. Chemically gated ion channels require the binding of a molecule to the ion channel, causing it to open. This is observed during olfaction and gustation, but not during the activation of hair cells, which occurs upon the physical perturbation of the hair cell membrane.
2. Sound wave-induced vibration of hair cells generates tension within the cell membrane that directly activate ion channels responsible for auditory signaling. This type of ion channel is a mechanically-gated channel, such that upon its activation, it generates a depolarizing current within the cell.
3. Electrically gated ion channels activate upon a change in membrane potential. Activity of electrically gated ion channels is associated with action potential propagation, but not vibration of the hair cell membrane.
4. While some ion channels are localized to the synapse, synaptic gating is not a mechanism by which ion channels can be activated.

Question 6

Describe the two perspectives of actor-observer bias

Answer 6

Actor-observer bias is where an actor tends to explain his or her behavior by situational factors, while an observer tends to explain the actor’s behavior based on stable, internal states. We have an external vs. internal explanation for behavior.

Question 7

How can one’s sympathetic arousal be measure without a researcher testing any internal aspect of the subject?

Answer 7

A. A measure of electrical conductivity of the skin

Increases in the electrical conductivity of the skin is a physiological indication of increased sympathetic arousal, which is associated with anxiety.

Question 8

True or False:

In-group bias becomes less extreme in times of conflict.

Answer 8

False.

In-group bias becomes more extreme in times of conflict.

Question 9

True or False:

Concerning General Adaptation Syndrome, the course of the stress response is dependent on the type of stressor.

Answer 9

False.

According to Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), an organism’s stress response always follows a similar course, regardless of the exact nature of the stressor.

Question 10

Which type of design is LEAST appropriate for research on residential segregation?

A. Ethnographic methods

B. Experimental methods

C. Quantitative methods

D. Survey methods

Answer 10

B. Experimental methods

Experimental methods are generally not appropriate for the study of residential segregation. Experiments require random assignment to different groups (usually an intervention group and a control group). Except under specific circumstances, it would be unethical and impractical to randomly assign participants to different groups in which residential segregation varies.

Question 11

What is ethnographic research?

Answer 11

Ethnographic research studies people or cultures in their own environment, in real social settings.

Question 12

Participants in a weight-loss program agree to have their body mass index (BMI) measured to track their progress in the program. Among a sample of 72 participants, the mean BMI is 30 and the median BMI is 25. Which statement provides an accurate description of the sample?

A. More participants had a BMI over 25 than a BMI under 25.

B. The majority of participants had a BMI between 25 and 30.

C. Half of the participants had a BMI over 25 and half had a BMI under 25.

D. More outliers among the participants had a BMI under 25 than a BMI over 30.

Answer 12

C. Half of the participants had a BMI over 25 and half had a BMI under 25.

The median represents the middle of the distribution, splitting the sample distribution of values in half. Thus, a median of 25 can be accurately described as when half of the sample has a BMI over 25 and the other half of the sample has a BMI under 25.

Question 13

Often utilized when studying communicable diseases, which type of analysis maps the series of relationships among a set of individuals?

A. Social support analysis

B. Social network analysis

C. Social stratification analysis

D. Social reproduction analysis

Answer 13

B. Social network analysis

Used in some epidemiological studies, social network analysis is the method described in the question. Network analysis involves mapping the social relationships that exist among a set of individuals.

Question 14

Which effect is LEAST likely to occur with the process of gentrification?

A. Development of affordable housing

B. Increased neighborhood stratification

C. Displacement of lower-income residents

D. Expanded tax base for local government

Answer 14

A. Development of affordable housing

Gentrification describes the process in which relatively affluent individuals move into a neighborhood that recently consisted of residents with moderate to low income. With the arrival of more affluent residents, housing demand increases and often leads to a decrease in affordable housing available to lower income residents.

In contrast, the other options are more likely to occur with the process of gentrification.

Question 15

Which statement does NOT identify an aspect of the concept of assimilation?

A. Assimilation is the influence that cultural changes have on an individual’s health.

B. Assimilation is the process of cultural adaptation that results from geographic mobility.

C. Assimilation occurs when individuals adopt the cultural norms of a dominant culture.

D. Assimilation occurs when individuals relinquish the cultural norms of their childhood.

Answer 15

A. Assimilation is the influence that cultural changes have on an individual’s health.

Assimilation refers to the process in which new members of a society adopt the norms and values of the dominant culture. Each of the other options provides an element of assimilation (cultural adaptation, adopting new norms, and relinquishing old norms). However, this option does NOT describe an aspect of assimilation itself, but instead speculates about a possible consequence of assimilation.

Question 16

The _______ hypothesis states that children have the innate biological ability to learn a language.

Answer 16

The Nativist hypothesis states that children have the innate biological ability to learn a language.

Question 17

Who described the idea that language affects the way we think, and what did he call this theory?

Answer 17

Linguist Benjamin Whorf.

Whorf proposed the Whorfian hypothesis, also called the linguistic relativity hypothesis, which suggests that our perception of reality—the way we think about the world—is determined by the content of language. In essence, language affects the way we think rather than the other way around.

Question 18

What does the linguistic relativity hypothesis argue?

Answer 18

Linguist Benjamin Whorf proposed the Whorfian hypothesis, also called the linguistic relativity hypothesis, which suggests that our perception of reality—the way we think about the world—is determined by the content of language. In essence, language affects the way we think rather than the other way around.

Question 19

What is another name for the linguistic relativity hypothesis?

Answer 19

Whorfian hypothesis, also called the linguistic relativity hypothesis, suggests that our perception of reality—the way we think about the world—is determined by the content of language. In essence, language affects the way we think rather than the other way around.

Question 20

Do social activities (alleviate boredom and loneliness) fall under the branch of social support?

Answer 20

No.

Social activities do not fall under the definition of social support, which is characterized by social relationships and social ties.

Question 21

Describe memory capacity and the rule that defines it’s storage ability.

Answer 21

Memory capacity is the number of items we can hold in our short-term memory at any given time is limited to approximately seven items, usually stated as the 7 ± 2 rule.

Question 22

What is George Miller’s “magic number”?

Answer 22

Based on early research into the capacity of the short-term memory store, the belief was that STM capacity lies between 5 and 9 items. George Miller named this idea the “Magical Number 7 + 2”.

Question 23

If adults performed the block tapping task as a measure of working memory capacity, they would most likely replicate sequences of what length correctly?

A. 9 plus or minus 1

B. 7 plus or minus 2

C. 10 plus or minus 1

D. 16 plus or minus 2

Answer 23

B. 7 plus or minus 2

Based on early research into the capacity of the short-term memory store, the belief was that STM capacity lies between 5 and 9 items. George Miller named this idea the “Magical Number 7 + 2”.

Question 24

Define:

priming

Answer 24

Priming involves the exposure to a stimulus that influences an unconscious response to a subsequent stimulus.

Question 25

Suppose squares 1, 2, 3, and 4, moving from left to right at the top of the grid light up and some participants think “top row lights up first,” to remember the sequence. Which process is most likely being used to enhance working memory capacity?

A. Divided attention

B. Priming

C. Automatic processing

D. Chunking

Answer 25

D. Chunking

The participants are engaging in chunking, in that a sequence of lights is combined into a single unit, which is easier to recognize.

Question 26

________ drives are those that motivate us to sustain necessary biological processes. ________ drives are those that motivate us to fulfill nonbiological, emotional, or “learned” desires.

Answer 26

Primary drives are those that motivate us to sustain necessary biological processes. Secondary drives are those that motivate us to fulfill nonbiological, emotional, or “learned” desires.

Question 27

Describe the two types of needs that are used to explain the need-based theories of motivation.

Answer 27

In need-based theories of motivation, energy and resources are allocated to best satisfy human needs. These needs may be primary needs, which are generally physiological needs such as the need for food, water, sleep, and shelter. Or these needs might be secondary needs, which are generally mental states, like a desire for power, achievement, or social belonging.

Question 28

What theory describes 3 universal needs that must be met in order to develop healthy relationships with oneself and others?

Answer 28

Self-determination theory (SDT) emphasizes the role of three universal needs: autonomy, the need to be in control of one’s actions and ideas; competence, the need to complete and excel at difficult tasks; and relatedness, the need to feel accepted and wanted in relationships. Self-determination theorists explain that these three needs must be met in order to develop healthy relationships with oneself and others.

Question 29

What are the 3 universal needs described in Self-determination theory (SDT)?

Answer 29

Autonomy, the need to be in control of one’s actions and ideas.

Competence, the need to complete and excel at difficult tasks.

Relatedness, the need to feel accepted and wanted in relationships.

Theorists explain that these three needs must be met in order to develop healthy relationships with oneself and others.

Question 30

________ theory explains that behavior is motivated not by need or arousal, but by the desire to pursue rewards and to avoid punishments.

Answer 30

Incentive theory explains that behavior is motivated not by need or arousal, but by the desire to pursue rewards and to avoid punishments.

Question 31

______________ states that the amount of motivation needed to reach a goal is the result of both the individual’s expectation of success in reaching the goal and the degree to which he or she values succeeding at the goal.

Answer 31

Expectancy–value theory states that the amount of motivation needed to reach a goal is the result of both the individual’s expectation of success in reaching the goal and the degree to which he or she values succeeding at the goal.

Question 32

Name the theory:

This theory explains that when a drug is taken repeatedly, the body will attempt to counteract the effects of the drug by changing its physiology. For example, the body will counteract repeated use of alcohol, a depressant, by increasing arousal. The problem with this reaction is that it will last longer than the drug, resulting in withdrawal symptoms that are exactly opposite the effects of alcohol: sensations of anxiety, jitteriness, and irritability. The withdrawal created by this mechanism can create a physical dependence on the drug.

Answer 32

Opponent-process theory

Question 33

An immigrant teen stops participating in the ethnic customs of his family and instead identifies with the dominant culture of the new country by dressing, speaking, and acting like teens from that culture. In this scenario, the teens of the new country’s dominant culture become which type of group for the teen?

A. Assimilated group

B. Reference group

C. Majority group

D. Peer group

Answer 33

B. Reference group

Individuals often emulate the attitudes and behaviors of groups that they would like to join. Sociologists refer to these groups as reference groups, which are important for self-evaluation and identity formation. The scenario in the question suggests that the teen constructs an identity, through modifying behaviors (dressing, speaking, acting), to match that of teens from the dominant culture. In the context of the specific information provided in the question, the dominant culture is closest to a reference group for the teen.

Question 34

Which type of social group is more stable, dyads or triads?

Answer 34

Triads are more stable.

If one member of a dyad decided to break ties, the group is destroyed. If a member of a triad did the same, the group would still be intact, now a dyad.

Question 35

From the perspective of basic group dynamics in sociology, larger groups are generally considered more ______ but less ______, whereas smaller groups are usually considered less ______ but more ______.

Answer 35

From the perspective of basic group dynamics in sociology, larger groups are generally considered more stable but less intimate, whereas smaller groups are usually considered less stable but more intimate.

Question 36

Which research methodology involves the extended, systematic observation of a complete social environment?

A. Comparative methods

B. Ethnographic methods

C. Experimental methods

D. Survey methods

Answer 36

B. Ethnographic methods

Ethnographic methods are accurately described in the question as involving systematic observation of a complete social environment. Systematic observation tends to be one of the key features of ethnography.